lobbyist

noun

lob·​by·​ist ˈlä-bē-ist 

plural lobbyists

: one who conducts activities aimed at influencing or swaying public officials and especially members of a legislative body on legislation : a person engaged in lobbying public officials

The new rule says that if you were a registered lobbyist in the past two years, you can't work for the administration on any issue you touched. After you leave government, you can't lobby the administration at all.

—Jacob Weisberg

Because so many lobbyists have past experience on Capitol Hill, they usually have personal ties both to members of congress and to their key staffers, who vet and prioritize the earmark requests.

—Ken Silverstein

Examples of lobbyist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Among those named is a lobbyist aligned with Ramaphosa’s 2017 presidential campaign and a family member of the president’s ex-wife. —Zanele Mji, Time, 21 Nov. 2025

Lawmakers face pressure from the tech industry, lobbyists and the practicalities related to the cost of implementation. —Stefani Langehennig, The Conversation, 21 Nov. 2025

Climate activists said that by their count about 1,600 official COP30 participants, nearly one of every 25, are fossil fuel lobbyists of some kind. —Jeff Young, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

None of the lobbyists nor O'Rourke are accused of legal wrongdoing. —Arden Farhi, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lobbyist

• hobbyist